A/HRC/10/23 page 16 62. Insecurity has further hindered the development of the formal justice system. In conflict-affected areas, formal justice institutions are becoming increasingly inaccessible and dysfunctional due to frequent attacks by anti-Government elements. Consequently, in some rural districts where formal justice institutions are no longer present, the Taliban has reportedly been strengthened and is allegedly operating parallel judicial systems. 63. The death penalty continues to be applied and carried out in Afghanistan. In November 2008, 16 men were executed following a review by a special commission and the approval of the President. Many Afghans, including prominent public figures, strongly support the death penalty in the belief that it serves as a deterrent in the face of growing criminality. Given my grave concern that law enforcement and judicial systems fall short of international standards, I requested the President to halt any further executions and to rejoin the growing international consensus for a moratorium on the death penalty. B. The National Human Rights Institution 64. In April 2008, a Statement of Principles was signed between the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission and several United Nations entities in Afghanistan including UNAMA, OHCHR, UNHCR, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). Its main objective is to further enhance the capacity and performance of AIHRC through more coordinated United Nations support. By working more closely and in a complementary manner, it is expected that an effective human rights protection system based on national capacities will be developed in Afghanistan. 65. The AIHRC maintained its “A” status accreditation by the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (ICC). Previous concerns expressed by the ICC subcommittee remain, including inadequate and inconsistent financial support received by the AIHRC from the Government as well as the selection and appointment of Commissioners, a process that should ensure the pluralism and independence of the institution. VIII. TECHNICAL COOPERATION 66. As part of its support to the ANDS process, the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Afghanistan commenced its preparation of the 2010-2013 United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) in July 2008 after the launch, a month before, of the ANDS, which will serve as the United Nations Common Country Assessment (CCA). The full draft of UNDAF has identified three priority areas for the United Nations in Afghanistan: fostering good governance, peace and stability; sustainable livelihoods for women and men - agriculture, food security and income generation; and basic social services - education and health. Throughout the UNDAF process, OHCHR is assisting partners in applying HRBA to socio-economic development. 67. In the wake of the successful media programming joint project between OHCHR and the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) National Programme on Action for